SPRINGTIME SHENANIGANS

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- MARCH 9, 2024

At 2:00 AM tomorrow the daylight saving time switch takes place. Add that to the recent warm weather and many of us are considering this a harbinger of spring. Official spring begins on Tuesday, March 19, at 11:06 PM, but getting a head start is an enticing prospect. 

Transitioning to a “spring forward” mentality may require some planning. For me an extra hour of late afternoon daylight means more pre-dinner porch time. This entails some snack and libation forethought. Spring eventually leads to summer, so being prepared is a key. 

As for snacks, HubScore has determined the favorite snacks in each state. A nifty map shows that Rice Krispies Treats and Chex Mix are preferred in the northern climes. Cheetos and Doritos dominate southern taste buds. Michigan's top five are: Rice Krispies Treats, Rice Krispies Treats, Doritos, Fritos, Goldfish, and Starburst. (https://hubscore.co/rating/favorite-snack-by-state)

A usual accouterment for snacking on a warm day is a cold beer. Pretty soon spring brews will make their appearance. Some of these have some semi-solids lurking at the bottom of the bottle. As it turns out, dregs aren’t actually as menacing as they sound. “It’s fine to drink the stuff hanging out on the bottom of the bottle.”

Some dregs do negatively affect the taste of the beer. However, this is not always the case. “The biggest exception would be wheat beers. In such beers, the yeast and grain proteins help bolster the flavor. If you’re pouring up a wheat beer, go all-in with the dregs.” (https://vinepair.com/articles/can-you-drink-beer-dregs-explainer/)

A Michigan favorite fits this category. “Mark your calendars: Oberon Day 2024 is Monday, March 25! The annual release of our citrusy and refreshing American Wheat Ale marks the return of everything we love about summer.” (https://bellsbeer.com/news/save-the-date-oberon-day-2024-sweet-new-sunshine/) 

With snacks and suds out of the way, the natural follow-up is to uncover the backyard grill and cook some juicy burgers. Tasting Table has something to say about this: “Smash Burgers Are Better Than Regular Burgers.” 

What's a smash burger? “A smash burger is a basic cheeseburger with a patty that has been literally smashed and flattened on the grill or flat top as it's cooked. These juicy, crusty, and super thin patties are usually served simple — layered two or three patties-high and stacked with cheese.” All the instructions about how to make a perfect smash burger is at: https://www.tastingtable.com/1529315/smash-burgers-regular-comparison/. 

After consuming those smash burgers, taking Fido out for a stroll might be a timely pursuit. However, if you listen to music while you walk trouble could be lurking. A particular Beatles song could be alarming for your canine companion. 

“The Beatles’ Paul McCartney revealed a little canine-related trick the band had included on their seminal 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. At the end of the album’s final track, “A Day in the Life,” the Fab Four added a tone pitched at 15 kilohertz, making the sound audible to dogs but difficult to hear for most humans.” McCartney warned: “If you ever play Sgt. Pepper, watch your dog.” (https://www.interestingfacts.com/dog-facts/ZAba9VL2HgAHJryD?)

Cat owners don't have to take their felines for a walk to log exercise miles. It's spring, so the cats go in-and-out a few hundred times per day. Just getting up-and-down to act as a human door knob causes your Fitbit to go into overdrive. You can tell the houses with cats because their garage doors are open six inches to allow cat traffic.

Finally, my daily walks are slowly revealing several sure signs of spring. One has to do with snowblowers. In the fall, you hear the revving of snowblower engines as owners get their machines ready for coming snow dumps. In the spring, you hear the put-puts of those engines being run to empty leftover gas before being tucked away for summer storage. 

There are other spring signals, too. The McKellop Walkway is back to being the I-75 of exercise as people enjoy strolls along Lake Cadillac. The playscape and pickleball courts on the walkway are starting to get some activity. 

My neighborhood is also awakening. The kids waiting for school busses are no longer bundled up like miniature Michelin men. Porches are sprouting a few pieces of furniture. Folks are out in their yards doing minor cleanup, like picking up sticks accumulated during windy winter events. 

For a clincher, there is an ultimate salute that really ushers in the spring season. People are trading their heavy duty winter ear-flap hats for baseball caps with the Old English D. Go Detroit Tigers!

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.